Industry News

Lightovation Interior Designer Preview Day, June 18, returns ahead of the largest residential lighting show in North America, to offer a first-look at trends and new lighting collections. The day is designed to provide special programming for the design community with informative panels, inspiring showroom tours, networking happy hour, and an exclusive sneak peek at Lightovation, June 19-22.

Lightovation is the largest residential lighting trade event in North America, and features more than 250 exhibitors showcasing the top lighting brands in the U.S. including Minka Group, Hudson Valley Lighting, Kuzco, Varaluz, Sonneman: A Way of Light, Z-Lite, Maxim, Progress Lighting, Eurofase, Hubbardton Forge, Elk Lighting, Crystorama, Savoy House, Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, WAC, Quorum International, Hinkley, and Elegant Furniture & Lighting, as well as ceiling fan companies including Fanimation, Matthews Fan Co., Hunter Fan Co., and Big Ass Fans.

“We are thrilled to have the design community back for a special day of design-focused events and programming,” said Cindy Morris, President, and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Designers attending Interior Designer Preview Day in June get the be the first to experience new lighting trends and products, and also hear from industry-leaders in the form of educational panels and discussions.”

Registration for Interior Designer Preview Day is available by visiting Dallas Market Center’s website or by clicking https://dallasmarketcenter.com/markets/markets.aspx?m=1702.

Events and Hospitalities

Interior Designers can expect a day of design-focused educational content with industry leaders, as well as a first look at the new trends and products debuting Lightovation.

Tuesday, June 18 – Schedule of Events

12 - 1 p.m. Interior Designer & Lighting Networking Lunch in the Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse
Enjoy a light lunch while networking with top Lighting Exhibitors and Interior Designers. Plus experience the Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse and learn from Leslie Carothers how you can use this, and similar technology, in your business.
RSVP Required

1 - 6 p.m. Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse Experience | Trade Mart North 3rd floor Escalator Lobby.

Designers are invited to join us in the Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse for a virtual-reality walk-through of 2,000 SF+ with fabulous lighting and design. The house features the latest lighting trends curated by interior designer and retailer Shay Geyer of IBB Design Fine Furnishings. Shay pulled her inspiration from the 2024 Lightovation Trend Report written by global trend ambassador, Patti Carpenter and presented by Furniture, Lighting, & Decor and Lightovation. All Residential architecture and 3D visualization executed by Annilee B. Waterman.

1 - 2 p.m. Designer Lighting Trend Tour with Patti Carpenter | Trade Mart 3 - Escalator Lobby
Follow renowned trend expert Patti Carpenter on a tour of Lighting Showrooms for an in-depth look at the latest lighting trends pulled from the 2024 Lightovation Trend Report and find where and how to source them in showrooms.

RSVP Required

2-3 p.m.  License to Design - Breaking into the world of Product Design & Licensing | Trade Mart 4 - Elevator Lobby

Join Designer and ASID National Board Chair, John Cialone, as he speaks with leading interior designers about making the leap from Interior Design to Product Design and Licensing.

Dann Foley of Minka - ARTS Award Winner: Product Designer
Lisa McDennon of Hinkley - ARTS Award Winner: Interior Designer
Megan Molten of Mitzi

3 – 5 p.m. Inside the Design - Product Designer Tours of Lighting Showrooms |Trade Mart 4 Elevator Lobby
Join our three Interior Designers-turned-Product Designers on a tour of lighting showrooms to get an inside look at their process, product, and the team they work with at each company to create their product lines.

RSVP Required

5 – 6 p.m. Interior Designer & Lighting Networking Happy Hour | TM 4103 - Minka Group

Enjoy drinks while networking with top Lighting exhibitors and Interior Designers inside the Minka Group Showroom.

Lightovation Exhibitor News

New for June is the addition of St James Lighting (TM 3351), a custom lighting and lantern manufacturer based in Columbia, Mississippi. Expanding and relocating is SDQStaunch Lighting, now in TM 3783 and showcasing LED lighting for indoor and outdoor. Relocating to TM 4707 is CWI Lighting, the Canadian company with a full range of lighting from indoor to outdoor.

Finally, Lightovation’s growing International Pavilion (TM 4909) is home to lighting manufacturers from around the world. New to the Pavilion for January was Abilux, representing several lighting design brands from Brazil which range from contemporary to industrial including exemplars in sustainability Audax, Celera, Conex, FASA, Lalux, Madelustre, Omega, PDLed. London’s Buster + Punch will showcase their collections of lighting, cabinetry hardware, and accessories. These companies are joined by Zafferano America and wakaNINE, representing several lighting design brands including exemplars in sustainability David Trubridge and PLN Group/Hush out of New Zealand, and Thailand’s Ango.

In addition to the preview day, designers are invited to attend Lightovation, which will feature new products, inspiring events, educational sessions, and celebrations with industry professionals and the of the best in the business of lighting.

Hotel Reservations for Interior Designer Preview Day can be made online, with daily rates as low as $145. https://book.passkey.com/event/50365936/owner/14227/home. *Connections is the only approved Dallas Market Center booking site.

Style Eyes Trendspotting

The Style Eyes return for summer as the program leveraging the knowledge and taste making skills of social media influencers for their insights and discoveries. The Style Eyes will spot must-see and unique products and trends across the lighting marketplace. Designers Lisa McDennon (@lisamcdennon) and Alisa Berry (@alisaberrydesigns) will serve as Style Eyes for June Lightovation. Lisa is the award-winning interior designer and product designer from Laguna Beach, CA with a collection of lighting from Hinkley. Alisa Berry Designs of Jackson, MS is nationally recognized as a colorful, joyful designer with expertise on new homes, redesigns, and holiday décor. Follow along on Dallas Market Center social media channels and #dallasstyleeyes.

Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse
This is the final chance for designers to experience the Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse,the immersive activation on the 3rd floor of the Trade Mart. The TrendHouse will be able to be viewed by Lightovation attendees in a special exhibition kiosk both as a 3D virtual walkthrough individual experience or via the metaverse space experience, where multiple people can join in and explore together, as avatars, at the same time. Lightovation attendees will have the choice to explore both spaces wearing a virtual reality headset provided by Dallas Market Center, or without one. Both the virtual walkthrough and the metaverse experiences of the TrendHouse will be virtual representations of a fully furnished and curated home, meticulously designed to showcase the latest trends in lighting, home decor, and technology that reflect the 2024 Lightovation Trend Report, curated by global trend forecaster Patti Carpenter and presented by Furniture Lighting and Decor magazine for the show. Coffee will be served in the TrendHouse at 9:00 AM Wednesday - Friday.

ARTS Awards Nominations

Nominations are open for the 35th ARTS Awards, hosted by Thom Filicia and Carson Kressley and taking place on January 10, 2025, during winter editions of Lightovation and the Total Home & Gift Market. The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to home industry excellence and achievement, including several dedicated lighting retail and manufacturing categories. Anyone may submit nominations for the ARTS Awards through June 26 at www.dallasmarketcenter.com/artsawards.

Spark Magazine: Summer Issue

More than 50,000 retailers and designers are receiving the latest issue of Spark magazine, the stylish pre-market publication highlighting trends, what’s new inside the market center, and insights from makers and influencers. The cover story is a profile of the largest rep agencies at Dallas Market Center and the power of relationships to support retailers. This issue also features one of the four lighting trends from annual Lightovation Trend Report plus home trends with a Texas design style; other articles focus on gifts; fashion; and highlights of new and expanding showrooms throughout Dallas Market Center plus a special section The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market. Finally, the magazine offers plenty of reasons to explore new restaurants and Instagram worthy backdrops around Dallas.

June Trade Events

In addition to Lightovation (June 19-22), Total Home & Gift and KidsWorld will be taking place on June 19-25, TEMPS 19-22. The Apparel & Accessories Market will be taking place on June 11-14.

Additional information about the largest residential lighting show in North America is available on the Lightovation page of the Dallas Market Center website. Keep up with the latest developments by following the #Lightovation and #dallasmarket hashtags on social media, visiting the Lightovation Facebook Page and joining the Lightovation - Lighting Industry Discussion Group on Facebook.

About Dallas Market Center

Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in lighting, home décor, furniture, gifts, and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus near downtown Dallas, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products via open-daily showrooms and from exhibitors participating in trade events held throughout the year. The Dallas Market Center website is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.

About Lightovation
Lightovation, the Dallas International Lighting Show, is the largest residential lighting event in North America and offers decision-makers from around the world the unmatched opportunity to discover more new products and best-selling ceiling fans and lighting in all interior and exterior categories at the Dallas Market Center. The event offers hundreds of top brands and companies, thousands of lighting fixtures, top-notch educational opportunities, and unmatched networking among industry peers. The Lightovation website is available at dallasmarketcenter.com/lightovation.